Edna-

I haven't worked with pig skin, but I have worked a little with pig
skeletal muscle.  I found lengthening my fixation formalin fixation time
help, as well as soaking all of the blocks in ice water once they had been
faced off helped a lot.

I know that pig skin texture tends to vary with breed, age of the animal
and with the area biopsied.  The skin from the dorsal region is alot
thicker than the skin from the inner thigh.  I have been working with a
delightful melanoma model called the Sinclair Swine.  These little pigs
have 75% wild pig gene in them.  The old boars have places on their
shoulders where the skin is callous and extremely impenetrable (like you
could not even get a 18G needle in for an injection).  If your dealing with
young (less than 4 months), domestic animals you should be okay.  On the
other hand, if your dealing with samples from wild animals.........


best wishes,

Margaret






"Edna_J_Gonzalez/Powderject"@powderject.com on 09/02/99 11:45:11 AM

To:   "HistoNet Server" <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
cc:    (bcc: Margaret Gondo/GeneMedicine)
Subject:  Pig Skin Samples






Dear Histonet friends:
I'm working with pig skin samples. I made paraffin blocks of them. Is there
anyone out there who has done paraffin blocks on pig skin who can help?
When I try to cut them, I cannot get the skin at all. I'm having split
ribbons and lengthwise scratches where the sample starts. Do you have any
suggestions? Thanks.
Edna Gonzalez
Histology Lab